Norteño event honors genre's first superstar

Lalo González popularized the norteño music genre — and its distinctive look.

Lalo González popularized the norteño music genre — and its distinctive look.

Photo: Courtesy Photos

Photo: Courtesy Photos

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Lalo González popularized the norteño music genre — and its distinctive look.

Lalo González popularized the norteño music genre — and its distinctive look.

Photo: Courtesy Photos

Norteño event honors genre's first superstar

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SAN ANTONIO — Childhood memories of listening to the music of Lalo González are still vivid for Patricia Lemppaf.

The musician's relevance to the culture of the northern part of her native México was clear to her then.

“I'm from Monterrey. I grew up hearing his music. He was the one who gave an identity to the people of the north,” said Lemppaf, a member of the Alianza Latino Americana, a San Antonio nonprofit founded in 2005 to promote and preserve the Latin American culture and traditions.

The group, which also goes by the name ALASARTE, is presenting its latest program as a tribute to Gonzalez and the norteño music he popularized in the 1950s.

“Ajua! Arriba El Norte,” will feature performances of many of Gonzalez' classic hits, including “El Taconazo” and “Chulas Fronteras.” Performers include Antonio Tanguma Jr. from Monterrey, México, and Alex Treviño and his Grupo Terrenal from the University of Coahuila. They will be joined by San Antonio's Conjunto Puro Corazon, Ballet Folklorico Mestizo and up-and-coming Tejano singer Phoebe Marie.

“He was this animated personality ... He was not so much a singing charro. His persona was this trying-to-get-ahead cowboy. The working class people identified with him, felt connected to him,” said Eduardo Velasquez, an ALASARTE member for several years.

Known as “El Piporro,” González was a musician and actor who's widely regarded as the first superstar of the norteño music genre. He not only popularized the music, but also the clothing that's become identified with norteño — cowboy hat, leather western-style jacket and cowboy boots.

“I'm not sure if he created (the look) or if he just made it popular,” Lemppaf said.

González also popularized the phrase, “¡Ajua!,” which he often said in his movies and other performances.

Such cultural contributions are why ALASARTE members decided to honor González and the norteño style he embodied.

“Those who are fans can enjoy the show, and those who don't know about (González) can learn about him and what he did,” Lemppaf said.

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Ajua! Arriba El Norte

What: The Alianza Latino Americana celebrates norteño music with a tribute to Lalo González, known to fans as “El Piporro.” Regarded as the first superstar of norteño music, González was a Mexican actor, singer-songwriter, radio personality and film director.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 31

Where: Thiry Auditorium, OLLU campus, 411 SW 24th St.

How much: $10 advance tickets; $12 at door. $15 tickets include dinner and a “Meet the Artists” reception